Louisville Metro police officers will start wearing body cameras next month.Chief Steve Conrad said the rollout will start with officers in the Fifth Division, which includes the Highlands and Cherokee Park.App Users: Watch mobile videoThe body cameras are part of a $2.8 million budget request. It will cost about $950,000 per year to store and manage all the video footage, but officials say it will be worth it.“We are very, very excited to be moving forward with this opportunity to equip our officers with body cameras,” Conrad said.Louisville Metro police ordered 988 cameras this week.Officers in the Fifth Division will begin wearing the cameras on June 2 as part of a six week pilot program.The other seven divisions will be outfitted after that.“I wanted to have a location where would we have an opportunity to work any kinks out of this new program,” Conrad said.The $2.8 million budget also includes more dash cams and city security cameras.The money will come from drug forfeitures, the city's general fund and a $900,000 loan.“This is only a proposal at this time. It must still be approved by Metro Council, but in our early discussions, there appears to be broad support for this effort,” Mayor Greg Fischer said.Conrad said if the request is not approved, they will not have enough money to move beyond the pilot program.He said the cameras will improve accountability and crime fighting, but they won't record everything.“Our officers are not going to be required to record every minute of every shift. The intent is to have officers record all law enforcement actions,” Conrad said.Conrad said that includes traffic stops, searches, pursuits and arrests.Officers will not have to record casual conversations, and they can turn the cameras off if they are talking to confidential informants.“While we're intending to increase the public's trust, I don't want to erode that trust and have citizens feel like they can't approach an officer and have a friendly conversation and maybe share some information about some concerns they have in a neighborhood,” Conrad said.Conrad said there will be a community meeting on June 2 in the Fifth Division to discuss the rollout.The exact time and place will be announced later.

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The body cameras are part of a $2.8 million budget request. It will cost about $950,000 per year to store and manage all the video footage, but officials say it will be worth it.

“We are very, very excited to be moving forward with this opportunity to equip our officers with body cameras,” Conrad said.

Louisville Metro police ordered 988 cameras this week.

Officers in the Fifth Division will begin wearing the cameras on June 2 as part of a six week pilot program.

The other seven divisions will be outfitted after that.

“I wanted to have a location where would we have an opportunity to work any kinks out of this new program,” Conrad said.

The $2.8 million budget also includes more dash cams and city security cameras.

The money will come from drug forfeitures, the city's general fund and a $900,000 loan.

“This is only a proposal at this time. It must still be approved by Metro Council, but in our early discussions, there appears to be broad support for this effort,” Mayor Greg Fischer said.

Conrad said if the request is not approved, they will not have enough money to move beyond the pilot program.

He said the cameras will improve accountability and crime fighting, but they won't record everything.

“Our officers are not going to be required to record every minute of every shift. The intent is to have officers record all law enforcement actions,” Conrad said.

Conrad said that includes traffic stops, searches, pursuits and arrests.

Officers will not have to record casual conversations, and they can turn the cameras off if they are talking to confidential informants.

“While we're intending to increase the public's trust, I don't want to erode that trust and have citizens feel like they can't approach an officer and have a friendly conversation and maybe share some information about some concerns they have in a neighborhood,” Conrad said.

Conrad said there will be a community meeting on June 2 in the Fifth Division to discuss the rollout.